Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-13
The Cradle orthc Constitution

cooler westerly during Wednesday
The Cradle of the Constitutions"
When the Alexandria Light Infantry
leaves for Philadelphia on Thursday it would
he we'll for them as representatives, OF Alex
andria to carry with them g realization OF
the fact that they 90 from town in which
was taken the first steps Of The movement
which led to the event which they go to
Philadelphia TO celebrate.
Mr.. George Tucker in his history OF the
Constitutional Conventions thus records Al.
cxandras part in that event:
THE ALEXANDRIA CONVENTION.
Among these strong inducements TO an
enlargement Of the federal powers, tie com.
marciil difficulties Of tho States seeEl to
have exerted Is principa agency IN bringing
about that change in tier civil p0iity. The
several steps By which this great result was
Elected NAV Zero be noticed a! curious
and interesting portion OF the national! an
mas situated as N;rgigisa end Mary land
ncre having several ports adapted to fore!g1
trade on The same great estuary, the Chesa-
ueakc bay and It's waters, ;he spirit OF com
marcial rivalry wsa scoa excited De-
r,v4en them. WREN il wGS found chat the
CONCESSIONS and sacrifices which one State
was willing 10 make 10 increase its trade or
revenue. we're net by smiisi concessions and
sacrifices o3 thc pnrt OF The Other ana lhus
anuncompensattd less was SUSTAINED By both.
1t was moreover a constant source Of mutual
irritation. jealousy and discord The in
terest of both States then strongly recon-
mended them 10 sgree OH some UNIFORM
.ystem OF duties and other regulations. Yet,
OBVIOUS MS were The benefits OF such s. syS.
tom. no successful efforts had been made 10
elect i, unit accident concurred with pa
,riotic sagacity to bring it about. For the
purpose Of forming q compact concerning
me jurisdiction OF the rivers Potomac and
pocumoke and part Of the Chesapeake
Blg occasionally brought into cootlict be-
lgreu the two States, as those waters were
comnon to both, those States. in llS0, ap-
pointed commissioners, who met at AleXan-
dria m March Of tbnt wear. They thence
made a visit 10 Mt Vernon, and, while
there they agreed, on the suggestion, 1t IS
believed, OF Mr.. Madison, who was enc CT
The commissioners, and with the concur
rcrce OF Gen Washington, to advise their
respective States TO make an arrangement
for supporting "a naval loice in the Chesa.
peake at their joint expense, anC also TO es-
inblish tariff Of duties common 10 both
States These propositions OF the commits
soaers were adopted By the Virginia Leg
stature Maryland. however, qualified her
assent TO the propositions by condition that
tney should FIRST DO made to the ueighboring
States of Delaware and Pennsylvania. But
Mr.. Madison, who had been q member OF
the Legislature since he left Congress in
I117;&s, anticipating that Delaware and Penn
-ylvnnia might also require the concurrence
of the ntignboring States, and thus the
proposed reform he long protracted and per-
h Us defeated. was induced TO propose
me-. ing OF commissioners fccm all the
states The resolution prepared by him
was ado rsed on the 2lsi, of January, 1856,
uc,o,dinc 10 which commissioners were ap-
no;ntpd TO l. 0eet those Of the other States
Mt limo an, place TO he agreed on To
take into cons. teration the trade OF the
United States 10 examine The relative SIT
uaton and trade OF those State; to con
slider how far ~ form system IN thelr
cummcica relations may De necessary 10
,hor common interest aud their pernan-
ent harmony, and To repHrt 30 inc seVerai
States such an act relative tI this great CD
iact as when unanimously ratified BY them,
will enable iha lInited States, IN Congress
assembled etl.ctualiv 10 provide FOR III"
same. La the circalar letter which convey
el these resolutions TO the States. Annapolis
was proposed as me place, and Septf mher
The time of meeting Nine Of the States ap
pointed commissioners TO attend this c1n
venton, bat only those Of five States were
represented these were New York, NeW
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and VIZ
l,inia aud, what was remarkable, the state
IN which they sat had no representative.
t'rom the small number Of States represent
ed md the very limited powers conlided to
rb",n the convention decided to adopt no
other m cssure than TO propose 80 their sew
.r,l St.te.,n general convention o: deputies
appointed by tie Legislatures of all the
Safes 10 meet in Philadelphia in tho follow.
ing MAY. for the purpose Of . general revis-
i'm of the federal system. This address was
drawn hv Alexander Hamilton, who tnere
embodied the liberal views he had long en-
tnrtaine,! The Invitation was accented,
and thus originated the government Which
gave stability and prosperity 10 our Conleo-
crate Republic" D.
When the centennial of Alexandria
share in the establishment of The constitution
came round in March, 1885, the then Super
utendent of Puplic Schools urged that some
slight celebration should take place here.
His motion was not seconded. 1t is hoped,
however, that Aloxandrians will not fail to
claim at Philadelphia that Alexandria is the
cradle of the constitution.
CONFEDERATE MoNUMENT-The follow
ing is the circular issued by Lee Camp, Con-
federate Veterans, soliciting aid for the
oractinp IF q monument in honor Of the Con.